Restaurant expansion proposed

Restaurant
expansion
proposed
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — The landscape of Main Street’s restaurant row may see some improvements to the Metropolitan Cafe in the near future.

Owner Rob Cash brought his ideas and architectural renderings to the Borough Council’s Jan. 12 meeting to seek approval for his conceptual designs before proceeding with formal plans.

Although Cash will eventually have to obtain approval for the improvements from the Planning Board, the first step required was for the council to give the go-ahead to the conceptual designs because the borough owns the property along the alley that Cash wants to use, according to Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins.

Cash wants to expand the side of his building about 12 feet into the alley. This area will be enclosed and accommodate more customers in the restaurant’s bar area. Booths in that area will be moved to the back of the building. At the front of the restaurant outside, Cash wants to add seating for several more people and cover that area.

The expansion proposed on the side of the building is borough property so Cash needs approval from the council to license the land or to buy it.

Higgins introduced the proposal and Cash presented the architectural renderings depicting the alleyway improvements.

Council members unanimously approved the conceptual designs, but no decision was made on the issue of selling or licensing the borough property.

Cash said he was told the Planning Board will try to get his application on the agenda as soon as possible.